Model calculation unit and control unit for calculating a data-based function model having data in various number formats

Abstract

A model calculation unit for calculating a data-based function model, in particular a Gaussian process model, in a control unit, including: a processor core to carry out a strictly hardware-based calculation of an algorithm for a data-based function model, the data-based function model being calculated using provided calculation data, in particular hyperparameters and node data; and a strictly hardware-based conversion unit to provide the processor core with at least a portion of the calculation data, in particular the provided node data, in a predefined number format.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A model calculation unit for calculating a data-based function model in a control unit, comprising:
 a processor core configured to carry out a strictly hardware-based calculation of an algorithm for a data-based function model, the data-based function model being calculated using provided calculation data; and   a strictly hardware-based conversion unit configured to provide the processor core with at least a portion of the calculation data in a predefined number format.   
     
     
         2 . The model calculation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion unit is configured to carry out, as a function of a selection signal, a conversion of at least a portion of the provided calculation data of one number format which differs from the predefined number format, into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         3 . The model calculation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion unit includes at least one conversion block for converting a first number format of data into the predefined number format, as well as a multiplexer, in order, as a function of the selection signal, to forward to the processor core either the provided calculation data or the calculation data converted by one of the at least one conversion blocks into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         4 . The model calculation unit of  claim 3 , wherein the predefined number format corresponds to a 32-bit floating point number format. 
     
     
         5 . The model calculation unit of  claim 3 , wherein a first conversion block is configured to convert data from a floating point number format which includes a bit number lower than the predefined number format, into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         6 . The model calculation unit of  claim 3 , wherein a second conversion block is configured to convert data from a fixed point number format into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         7 . The model calculation unit of  claim 6 , wherein the second conversion block is configured to take into account a predefined exponent value when converting data from the fixed point number format into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         8 . The model calculation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the data-based function model include a Gaussian process model. 
     
     
         9 . The model calculation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the calculation data includes hyperparameters and node data. 
     
     
         10 . The model calculation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the calculation data includes node data. 
     
     
         11 . The model calculation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the calculation data includes hyperparameters and node data, and wherein the at least a portion of the calculation data includes the node data. 
     
     
         12 . The model calculation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the data-based function model include a Gaussian process model, wherein the calculation data includes hyperparameters and node data, and wherein the at least a portion of the calculation data includes the node data. 
     
     
         13 . A control unit, comnprising:
 a main processing unit for software-controlled execution of functions;   a memory unit for storing calculation data in a number format; and   a model calculation unit for calculating a data-based function model in a control unit, including:
 a processor core configured to carry out a strictly hardware-based calculation of an algorithm for a data-based function model, the data-based function model being calculated using provided calculation data; and 
 a strictly hardware-based conversion unit configured to provide the processor core with at least a portion of the calculation data in a predefined number format. 
   
     
     
         14 . The control unit of  claim 13 , wherein the main processing unit provides a selection signal to the model calculation unit as a function of the number format in which calculation data are stored in the memory unit, so that the conversion unit, as a function of the selection signal, carries out a conversion of the calculation data into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         15 . The control unit of  claim 13 , wherein the conversion unit includes at least one conversion block for converting a first number format of data into the predefined number format, as well as a multiplexer, in order, as a function of the selection signal, to forward to the processor core either the provided calculation data or the calculation data converted by one of the at least one conversion blocks into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         16 . The control unit of  claim 15 , wherein the predefined number format corresponds to a 32-bit floating point number format. 
     
     
         17 . The control unit of  claim 15 , wherein a first conversion block is configured to convert data from a floating point number format which includes a bit number lower than the predefined number format, into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         18 . The control unit of  claim 15 , wherein a second conversion block is configured to convert data from a fixed point number format into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         19 . The control unit of  claim 18 , wherein the second conversion block is configured to take into account a predefined exponent value when converting data from the fixed point number format into the predefined number format. 
     
     
         20 . The control unit of  claim 13 , wherein the data-based function model include a Gaussian process model. 
     
     
         21 . The control unit of  claim 13 , wherein the calculation data includes hyperparameters and node data. 
     
     
         22 . The control unit of  claim 13 , wherein the at least a portion of the calculation data includes node data. 
     
     
         23 . The control unit of  claim 13 , wherein the calculation data includes hyperparameters and node data, and wherein the at least a portion of the calculation data includes the node data. 
     
     
         24 . The control unit of  claim 13 , wherein the data-based function model include a Gaussian process model, wherein the calculation data includes hyperparameters and node data, and wherein the at least a portion of the calculation data includes the node data.